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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Officials Spoil Ford’s Day at the Creek

Staff, Sunday April 29, 2001.

Page 1 of 1

Ford teams took the chequered flag, led the field, and set the fastest lap, but decisions more than an hour after the finish of race-one has left spectators confused and team managers furious over the decision process.

Ford V8 Supercar drivers Craig Lowndes (Gibson Motorsport) and Marcos Ambrose (Pirtek Racing) had the top two positions in race one taken away following post-race reviews by the stewards of the meeting.

Lowndes was bumped from first place in race one after passing Greg Murphy when a safety was called onto the circuit after an incident involving Paul Romano. Murphy had just left the pit lane at the time and Lowndes was at full speed on the circuit.

Officials did not act at the time, and instead of letting Murphy back in front when the race re-started, a 29-second time penalty was imposed over an hour after the race had finished.

The same post-race penalty was given to Ambrose who hit the back of Murphy’s car while attempting to overtake.

The start of race one was dominated by Ford Tickford Racing’s (FTR) Glenn Seton who went to the lead from fourth position on the grid ahead of Lowndes, Ambrose, Todd Kelly and FTR team mate Steven Richards.

Being in front was not the place to be, as the Romano incident behind saw crews down the field benefit.

The FTR cars were in first and second when the safety car was called onto the circuit. Under the rules, the team could not make their compulsory stops until after the resumption of racing. The lost time in the pits saw the cars finish 14th (Richards) and 17th (Seton).

The amended results gave Murphy victory, with Mark Skaife second and Jason Bright third.

Murphy was given a stop-go penalty after leaving the start-line early in the second race, but his 11th place earned him third overall for the day, behind race two winner and overall victor for the round Mark Skaife with Jason Bright second.

Ford drivers with smiles on their faces were John Bowe (CAT racing) who finished fourth overall with Paul Radisich (Shell Helix Racing) in fifth.

Ford drivers Lowndes, Ambrose, Cameron McLean (Paragon Motorsport), Brad Jones (OzEmail Internet Racing) and Glenn Seton rounded-out the first ten.

“I’m delighted to debut a new car and bring it home in fourth without a mark on it,” said Bowe.

“To have such a dramatic race and not to be involved in any of the incidents is a nice change, and I’m looking forward to things staying that way.

“It’s good to see seven Fords in the first ten, and I’m sure those seven positions will include the first three in the very near future.

Ford next goes racing at Darwin’s Hidden Valley on May 12 – 13.

Top 10 positions for Eastern Creek:

Top 10 Championship positions after Eastern Creek:

For further information contact:
Ben Beazley
Media Coordinator
Ford Racing
Phone: (03) 9533 4455
Mobile: 0417 262 753
Email: ben@segalmedia.com.au

or

Howard Marsden
General Manager
Ford Racing
Phone: (03) 9359 8461

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